TOKYO, July 31, 2021 (AFP) – Cuban Juan Miguel Echevarria, one of the favorites to win the long title at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, qualified on Saturday (31) with virtually no clothing for the final, with a first flight of 8.50. meters, which is enough to secure its place.
To enter the final, it was necessary to reach 8.15 meters, or take one of the top 12 places in the qualifying stage. Echevarría calmly completed the first condition and declared his mission accomplished.
The Camaguey jumper’s 8.50m is his best mark this season, which until then was 8.38m.
Echevarría is close to turning 23 and having his personal best at 8.68m since 2018, and is facing his first Olympic challenge, having emerged in recent years.
In 2019, he was the All-American Champion and won the bronze medal at the World Cup in Doha, the version that he reached as a favorite. A year ago, he was the indoor world champion in Birmingham (UK).
In doing so, he asserts himself as the main golden opportunity for Cuba in athletics in Tokyo 2020, along with discus thrower Yami Perez, the current world champion and seeded to the final of her event just a few hours ago.
Denia Caballero, world champion in discus in 2015, world silver in 2019 and Olympic bronze in 2016, was eliminated in the qualifying round for her event.
Both the men’s long jump final and the women’s disc edition will take place next Monday (2).
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